Public Safety Citizens Academy opens enrollment

Class learns policing, firefighting tactics

Posted
Wednesday, January 2, 2013 12:00 am

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JONATHAN COPSEY

ALPHARETTA, Ga. – The Alpharetta Department of Public Safety will offer its free fifth annual Public Safety Citizens Academy beginning Jan. 30, 2013 at the Roswell/Alpharetta Public Safety Training Center (RAPSTC) in order to introduce the public to the various aspects involved with police and fire services.

“These classes will allow citizens to have a better understanding of the public safety concept and how it ties everyone into a common goal,” said academy coordinator, Officer Terry Joyner.

Residents of Alpharetta and those who work in the city will be accepted first into the program. Others who are interested can join only if there is space.

The academy is held once a year and each graduating class is filled with approximately 35 to 40 students who participate in a series of 14 classes. Classes are held once per week, either on a Wednesday night or Saturday morning at RAPSTC and will include information on 911 communications, S.W.A.T, basic firefighter, criminal investigations, public safety volunteer programs, constitutional law, auto extrication, T.E.R.S., F.A.T.S., hazardous materials, K-9, community relations, fire prevention, Police Athletic League (PAL) and CPR/AED.

New for this year is a class on tactical emergency response specialists (T.E.R.S.). These are officers who go in with police and render first aid to anyone injured, said Joyner.

“The police are trained to escort EMTs or paramedics and firefighters into an area,” he said.

Interested students must complete a written application and provide a list of references. Applicants are also subject to a background check and final approval by the agency. Applications are available at www.alpharetta.ga.us.

Classes continue once a week until May 1.

The academy is possible this year in part thanks to a donation from Walmart.

For more information contact Joyner at 678-297-6309, tjoyner@alpharetta.ga.us or Capt. Joe Popadics at 678-297-6352, jpopadics@alpharetta.ga.us.